TOM PATTEN, Pasco

Richard Badalamente's view of conservative and liberal perceptions of "fairness" (In Focus, Sept. 30) fails to propose a definition for fairness and ignores the question of how to politically address perceived unfairness.

Those on the left seem to seek economic fairness from government intervention based upon the ends justifying the means. How else could anyone accept the crony capitalism inherent in Obamacare?

Those on the right are more likely to regard political action on the basis of absolute morality, e.g., the fundamental unfairness of taking someone's wealth just because he has it. How else could anyone object to Warren Buffet or Bill Gates paying more income tax?

A more balanced view of addressing our current economic problems would be based upon historical experience, which shows that when governments are too involved in a nation's economy or try to dictate outcomes in the interest of fairness, capital is misallocated and economies grow more slowly, just as we are experiencing today.

The challenge for America is growing the economy in a global environment while maintaining a "fair" distribution of wealth. Working to define what constitutes a fair distribution of wealth would be more meaningful that trying to justify failed leftist economic policies.